It is thought that the “singing dance”, a childcare technique advocated by Fröbel, was first performed in Japan at Tokyo Women's Normal School Kindergarten, which was opened in 1876 (9th year of the Meiji era). The part played in its introduction by Clara Matsuno, the first senior kindergartner, Fuyu Toyoda, Hama Kondo and others was clearly recorded, but there has been little study of the role played by the
Reijin (musicians) belonging to the
Gakubu (Japanese Imperial Court Music Department), Board of Ceremonies, Imperial Household Ministry, to whom composition of
Hoiku-shoka (childcare songs) was requested, especially in relation to “singing dance”.
In this study, the author attempted to clarify the creation process of the
Hoiku-shoka by reference to the
Gagaku-roku (The Official Document Of Japanese Imperial Court Music), preserved at the
Gagaku-ka (Japanese Imperial Court Music Section) and
Shoryobu (Archives and Mausoleum Department, Imperial Household Agency).
The research revealed the following facts:
1. Creation process of
Hoiku-shoka1) Teaching place, schedule, honoraries to the
Reijin2) There was selection examination for the songs chosen (composed) by Hama Kondo, a kindergartner.
3) There was a plan to publish the
Hoiku-shoka, but its realization took a long time.
2. Introducing process of “singing dance”
1) The concerned
Reijin not only composed but also choreographed
Tamigusa.
2)
Shinado-no-kaze (Wind of Shinado) was originally a “singing dance”.
3) At the
Gakubu-daienshukai (Great recital of dance and music) held on 30th and 31st October, 1880 (13th year of Meiji), the
Gagaku-ka was thought to have organized a performance of
Hoiku-shoka by the students of Tokyo Women's Normal School and the children of its kindergarten.
These findings clarify the contribution of the
Reijin of the
Gagaku-ka to modernization of kindergarten education early in the Meiji era by not only selection of the
Hoiku-shoka but also its involvement in choreography of the “singing dance” and its teaching.
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